CULTURE CLASSES AND LITERATURE LESSONS
ABOUT OUR CULTURE CLASSES
Learning English as a foreign language may seem unimportant to students when their exposure to all things English is limited to just a few classroom hours a week. We believe it is important to help students realise that the language they study in the classroom is connected to a whole world outside the classroom – a world of different English-speaking cultures, which is often hard for them to experience directly.
Over 2,500,000 ESO and Bachillerato students studying with Burlington Books courses have now enjoyed a Burlington Culture Class. In these classes, one of our Teacher Trainers introduces students, in a light-hearted but instructive way, to different cultural aspects of the English-speaking world. This helps bring the language alive for the students. If you are thinking about using a new Burlington coursebook this year, contact us to ask about our culture classes!
ESO Culture Classes
BRITISH TRADITIONS AND FESTIVALS (ESO 1/2)
In this session, we go through the calendar and stop on certain days when an important festival or holiday is celebrated in Britain. From Halloween to Bonfire Night, Boxing Day to April Fool’s Day, learn about some strange and curious traditions and festivals, some of which are only celebrated in Britain.
USA CULTURE CLASS (ESO 1/2 & 3/4)
This class focuses on US culture, including topics such as food, sport, television and other aspects of US pop culture. We also look at some of the differences between British and US English.
ENGLISH AROUND THE WORLD (ESO 1/2 & 3/4)
This class goes beyond the boundaries of the UK to take a look at some other English-speaking countries such as Australia, Canada, India and Jamaica.
A TRIP TO LONDON (ESO 1/2 & 3/4)
Take a trip with us around London and visit some of the many sights this great city has to offer, including the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament and Madame Tussauds. We visit Sherlock Holmes’ London and discover the origins of the British police. Students also learn about British money and the best places to shop and eat.
IRELAND CULTURE CLASS
UK CULTURE CLASS (ESO 1/2 & 3/4)
In this class, the students learn about the different countries that make up the UK. We look at the flags, national symbols, Royal Family, food, languages, pop music and other aspects of life in Britain in a fun way.
Bachillerato Culture Classes
AROUND THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING WORLD
In this humorous but informative talk, we take a look at a number of different English-speaking countries. We will be travelling around the globe, stopping off at various points to examine some cultural and linguistic curiosities.
A TRIP TO BRITAIN
In this class, students will discover why the British drive on the left, as well as learn about the world’s first underground train system. They will also discover more about the cultural differences between the different parts of the UK, and the different languages that are spoken in Wales and Scotland.
USA ROAD TRIP
Travel with us along the historic Route 66 highway. Along the way, we will find out about US car culture and eating habits. We will also look at the best places to stay. Finally, we will take you on a musical tour of the whole country, discovering the geographical roots of different musical genres.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
This class takes the students on a trip around the Big Apple. They will find out about the history of this great metropolis and about the different generations of immigrants that have contributed to its success. We will also take a look at the city’s various sports teams and musical heritage.
LONDON CALLING
In this class, we take a trip around London, travelling on the Underground and stopping at different stations to visit some of the many sights in this great city. Students learn about both traditional London culture and the multicultural attractions of life in the capital.
A TO Z OF ENGLISH
In this vocabulary-based class, we go through the English alphabet, taking one word for each letter and explaining some fascinating facts relating to that word. Along the way, we discover some ‘false friends’ and explain the origins of a number of idiomatic expressions.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
This class focuses on more detailed food-related vocabulary, with particular emphasis on pronunciation. We look at some traditional dishes from different English-speaking countries, as well as the fast-food culture in the USA.
ESO Literature Lessons
CHARACTERS IN LITERATURE (ESO 1/2)
English literature has created characters that have become an integral part of our culture. The appeal of Hamlet, Sherlock Holmes or Robinson Crusoe is universal, and is not confined to the original stories or the historical period in which they were written, but is reflected in film, television and other aspects of contemporary culture. In this lesson, we focus on the characters rather than the stories, from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.
ENGLISH LITERATURE (ESO 1/2 & 3/4)
What do Shakespeare, Conan Doyle and Mark Twain have in common? They are all among the most widely read authors in the English language. In our General Literature lesson for ESO, we take a look at some of the most important authors from around the English-speaking world, their greatest works and the characters that made them famous.
ANIMALS IN LITERATURE (ESO 1/2)
From classics like Moby Dick or The Jungle Book, to modern fiction such as Jaws or The Lion King, some of the most celebrated characters of English literature come from the animal kingdom. In this lesson, we take a look at some animal characters from children’s literature.
VILLAINS IN LITERATURE (ESO 3/4)
How did Sweeney Todd dispose of his victims? Which real historical figure inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula? In this lesson, we take a look at the darker side of English literature, including characters from crime fiction, such as Sherlock Holmes’ arch-enemy Moriarty, as well as real-life characters, such as Jack the Ripper, who have inspired fictional works.
ALL ABOUT AUSTRALIA
GHOSTS AND LEGENDS (ESO 1/2 & 3/4)
This lesson touches on themes from various Burlington Readers. From some of the better-known phantoms to Britain’s most popular legends, the students will have the opportunity to expand their vocabulary and knowledge on all things scary and mysterious.
ALL ABOUT BRITAIN
ALL ABOUT CANADA
ALL ABOUT INDIA
ALL ABOUT IRELAND
ALL ABOUT NEW ZEALAND
ALL ABOUT SCOTLAND
ALL ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA
ALL ABOUT THE USA
ALL ABOUT WALES
Bachillerato Literature Lessons
GENERAL LITERATURE
This culturally diverse lesson is full of new vocabulary and is a fun way to learn about eight of the English language’s most important writers, many of whom are featured authors in the Burlington Readers series. Just like Sherlock Holmes, the students will have to play detective, as each author is presented through a series of clues.
GOTHIC LEGENDS
Gothic fiction became fashionable in Victorian Britain before spreading to the rest of the English-speaking world. In this lesson, we look at some of the characters that emerged during this period and have remained legends to this day: Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Sweeney Todd and the real-life legend of Jack the Ripper.
WOMEN IN LITERATURE
Discover the lives of the renowned women writers of timeless classics such as Frankenstein, Pride and Prejudice and Little Women. In this lesson, we take a closer look at these authors, who have made such important contributions to English literature. Who is the best-selling novelist of all time? What was the inspiration for the novel Sense and Sensibility? These questions and more are answered in the lesson.
SHAKESPEARE
Shakespeare is considered to be one of the greatest playwrights ever. In this lesson, the students will also discover what an impact Shakespeare had on the English language, and learn about the evolution of English since the Elizabethan era. They may also be surprised by Shakespeare’s personal life, the secrets he kept and the importance of his death.
A FOREIGNER IN AUSTRALIA
ADRIAN MOLE
TEACHER TRAINING team
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